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Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) today (December 9) announced the winners of the First Feature Film Initiative (FFFI). Three new and emerging directors and their production teams will receive full funding from the Film Development Fund (FDF) to make their first feature films.
The Chief Executive announced in the 2013 Policy Address the launch of the FFFI as the Government's latest measure to support the film industry. It seeks to identify and nurture talent for the local film industry through a competition focusing on screenplays and production proposals.
Speaking at the prize presentation ceremony, the Head of CreateHK, Mr Jerry Liu, said, "Since its launch, the FFFI has been well received by the film industry and the tertiary education sector. A total of 24 film production teams signed up for the competition. Among these, 22 were eligible to participate, with 14 teams participating in the Professionals Group and eight teams in the Higher Education Institutions Group.
"The film proposals submitted are of exceptional quality. The winning teams showed a flair for innovation and demonstrated capability in film production, and they should add energy to the local film industry."
The FFFI is divided into a Professionals Group and a Higher Education Institutions Group. The Professionals Group offers one prize and the Higher Education Institutions Group offers two. The winning entries are as follows:
Professionals Group
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Film title: OPUS 1
Brief introduction: Exploring human nature through depicting a cold-blooded murder
Director and scriptwriter: Mr Cheung King-wai
Producer: Mr Derek Yee
Higher Education Institutions Group
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Film title: Weeds on Fire
Brief introduction: An inspirational tale of the growth of a baseball team
Director: Mr Chan Chi-fat
Scriptwriters: Mr Chan Chi-fat and Mr Wong Chi-yeung
Producers: Mr Chan Hing-kai and Mr O Sing-pui
Film title: Mad World
Brief introduction: A story of how a father and his son, who are carrying an enormous sense of guilt, face their past
Director: Mr Wong Chun
Scriptwriter: Ms Chan Chor-hang
Producer: Mr Derek Chiu
Line producer: Ms Heiward Mak
The FDF will make available funding to cover the full production costs of the films by the winning teams. The production expenses for the winning teams in the Higher Education Institutions Group will be capped at $2 million per film while those for the winning team in the Professionals Group will be capped at $5 million.
The winning teams are required to complete the whole film production and sales process involving planning, shooting and distribution, and in the process can acquire experience in making a feature film.
Ends/Monday, December 9, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:48
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